U.S. naval technology stands at a crossroads. The degree of power and innovation in the fleet stands at its pinnacle, and designs and plans progress for even greater impact — unmanned ships, destructive lasers, AI-augmented decision-making.
Yet the face of the Navy has to many never seemed graver. Naval manpower sits on a razor’s edge. Shipbuilding programs fall behind schedule — nearly all of them. The success of the lauded solid-state laser programs has petered out and its future is under consideration by Congress.
The world’s greatest navy, possessing the greatest technology, and retaining the greatest potential, also confronts the greatest challenges.
Successful opportunities like the MTA pathway, and new ideas like the SHIPS legislation provide, and may provide, sufficient impetus to kick the hog, and factors like pressure from potential antagonists and increasing retention within the ranks offer a means forward. But it remains clear that not only is there work that lies ahead to preserve the impetus, there is also the need for extremely careful consideration by all engaged parties. If any major factor or initiative were to fail, it may set back naval progress at a critical juncture, and leave a poor taste in taxpayers’ mouths, for reasonable cause.
Given how often military technology becomes fundamental to society later on — ARPANET, GPS, radar, and microwaves being only a few of the more obvious examples — it is not unreasonable to consider success or failure in this domain a bellwether that sets future expectations, by the military, by the citizenry, and by the nations of the world.
References:
- https://news.usni.org/2024/08/29/navy-set-to-meet-active-duty-recruiting-goals-after-missing-two-straight-years
- https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-10/59508-shipbuilding.pdf
- https://news.usni.org/2023/02/08/attracting-quality-workforce-biggest-issue-facing-shipyard-experts-tell-congress
- https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44175
- https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105008
- https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2024/04/02/us-navy-ship-programs-face-years-long-delays-amid-labor-supply-woes/
- https://news.usni.org/2024/10/01/navy-marine-exceed-fiscal-year-2024-recruiting-retention-goals
- https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-kelly-sen-young-rep-garamendi-rep-kelly-introduce-ships-for-america-act-to-revitalize-us-shipbuilding-and-commercial-maritime-industries/
- https://news.usni.org/2024/10/01/navy-marine-exceed-fiscal-year-2024-recruiting-retention-goals